Heads Up: The Right Helmet for the Ride

Designed for enduro riding, the Bell Super 2R features a quick-release chin bar that converts it from a half-lid trail helmet to a lightweight, full-face helmet. It's also goggles-compatible and provides more coverage than a traditional mountain bike helmet—even in trail mode—particularly over the temples and back of the head.

What You Need to Know
In descend mode, the Super 2R with the chin bar on provides some protection against face-first crashes, but it doesn't meet the ASTM 1952 certification—a minimum safety standard for chin bars—like burlier downhill helmets do.

Go Light Without the chin bar, the Super 2R looks identical to the original Bell Super trail helmet. It's a little heavier than many traditional mountain bike helmets, but it sits comfortably and comes with an effective fit system for adjusting tension and height on your head. You'll need a pack to carry the chin bar in this mode—it's easy to lash down if you have straps.

MIPS Upgrade For $20 more, the 2R is offered with MIPS, a sliding layer inside the helmet claimed to attenuate rotational forces caused by angled impacts, which MIPS says is characteristic of the majority of real-world accidents.

Goggles-Friendly The visor provides plenty of sun protection, and can be pushed back far enough for goggles to fit beneath it when you want them out of the way on climbs.

Ready for Action An integrated mount makes it easy to attach your action cam, and holds it securely once it's fastened.

Medical Alert The Super 2R comes with an ICEdot sticker containing a unique PIN code, which first responders can use to access health and emergency contact information for a rider who can't speak after a crash.

Go Strong Aggressive, high-speed descending means a greater likelihood of going over the handlebar face-first. To protect your moneymaker, just lock the chin bar into the lower vents and secure it with three clips—no need to take the helmet off. We installed ours in less than 10 seconds.

The Throwback—Brooks J. B. Classic Carrera Foldable Helmet (left)
Italian helmet-maker Carrera collaborated with leather saddle maker Brooks England to create this special edition of Carrera's Fold-able commuter helmet. Its look is reminiscent of the leather "hairnet" helmets of the '70s—but its tech features are all modern-day.

Collapsible The helmet's name is a little deceiving: The J.B. Classic doesn't fold as much as it squishes, reducing its width by a little more than an inch on our size S/M test helmet. It's not a radical difference, but it does make it easier to stash the helmet in a bag.

Better Breathability The channels between the segments double as vents—air flow is better than a skate-style helmet, but a step below a typical road or mountain helmet.

Flexible Frame Most commuter helmets are shaped like solid bowls, but Carrera built this one with five foam segments that are linked with webbing. This flexible construction makes the J.B. Classic feel more like a cycling cap than a helmet.

Elastic Fit As with most modern helmets, you can adjust height and tension. But Carrera uses an elastic system that still grips the head effectively, yet feels softer and more plush than a plastic ratcheting band.

Optional Flair The J.B. Classic edition comes in Brooks-inspired colors: copper, ivory, and black. For an extra $25, you can get the J.B. Special, which features a panel covered with tartan or herringbone fabric.

HR Sensor An optical sensor sits in the brow pad and reads your heart rate based on the percentage of oxygen detected in the bloodstream. The sensor was unobtrusive to most testers, but some said it created a noticeable or even painful pressure point.

Adjustable Fit Lazer's Rollsys fit system makes it easy to dial in tension. The plastic stabilizer hugs the back of the head securely and can also be adjusted for height, though it wraps so far forward that it can interfere with sunglass arms.

Control center Lazer tucks a capsule containing the power switch, a USB-rechargeable battery [claimed 18-hour life], and ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart transmitters into a vent in the back of the helmet. There's also a red, blinking LED light built into the Rollsys wheel to make you more visible at night.

Value Bundle At $229, the Genesis LifeBEAM is expensive, but it costs less than the combined price of a standard Genesis helmet [$175] and many quality heart-rate straps [about $60]. It weighs only about five grams more than the standard Genesis according to our scale, so it's lighter than a chest strap, too.

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